Repulsive, and lucrative?Alaska's hag fish, or 'slime eels,' could hold market potential

摘要

Biologists prefer the name hagfish over the equally unflattering name "slime eel" because although hagfish do produce slime, they are not true eels. They are, however, veritable slime-producing machines - one hagfish can fill a bucket with slime in seconds.But despite the slime and their off-putting appearance, there is actually a lot to like about hagfish:As an undeveloped fishery in Alaska, there is strong potential to provide for an existing market for the meat and skin.Biologists love mysterious, little-studied animals with unusual abilities.